IN SPREADING CHRISTIANITY. 203 



established, and proceeded with more con 

 fidence to the full execution of their plan. 

 They quickly acquired the language of the 

 islands, which from the largest of them they 

 called the O Wahi language, printed the first 

 book in it, (a collection of Hymns,) in the year 

 1822, and instructed the natives, who proved 

 apt scholars, in reading and writing. These 

 missionaries were Protestants ; but the Catholic 

 Karemaku, having no notion of the points of 

 doctrine in dispute between the Churches, 

 joined without hesitation in communion with 

 them ; and the Christian religion spreading ra 

 pidly among the Sandwich Islanders, without 

 any of the constraint or persecution which had 

 disgraced it at O Tahaiti, promised the happiest 

 effects. 



Notwithstanding, however, all the efforts of 

 Karemaku, the people were not yet entirely pa 

 cified. The former faith had still many secret 

 adherents, and the King was unable to acquire 

 either the esteem or affection of his subjects. 

 Insurrections were continually dreaded ; and Rio 

 Rio, not feeling sufficiently secure even in his 

 entrenchments at Wahu, determined, by the ad- 



